Her memory is fresh as the fruit she’s eating now. It rejuvenates her nerves as she drank a juice that slipped down her throat. It has been three weeks since they came here. All was to thank Henrick, he had guide them in Shahaya island, a lone huge island that is across the sea. At first, she was mad of why they were not taken to the main mansion of the Glade, but after she knew about the uprising of the Renegades, she willingly complied to his instruction and allowed him to take them in Shahaya.

This desolated island is far from the mainland and is safe from the nations radar. They were welcome as guess and was fed. The children were taken properly and gave them bath. At first, they were hesitant to come over and join the other children, but soon enough they were able to adept and make friends.

All those hardships were paid off as she can see that the children can live a comfortable life, free from worries and danger. She may not agree with their way of living but she is glad that the heads of the Glade allow them to choose their path on their own while at the same time they are getting benefits with some minor chores that is out of the spectrum within danger.

Most of the children around 9 are free from the malicious world while still learning, up above the stated age is still learning adequacy and manners while still having the freedom of as a child to explore. There is nothing more important for her than to protect the children’s innocence at all cost, even if it meant to dismay her goals.

She knew that such system was bound by the external force and restricted themselves from outside influences. She knew that there is something more than the pretty face and sweet talks from the people in the Glade including Henrick but she did not want to probe any further to upset their courtesy of accepting them as their guest and adopt the children she adores to save from those people who abuses them for child labor.

She stared at the bottom of the cliff onto the shadow part of the sea. Her thoughts reminiscing the times when she was with her fellow kind. Glox followed her discreetly, he noticed that her face is longed whenever she is preoccupied. Glox easily leaped on the adjacent stepping stone and onto the clearing then stay by her side.

“It isn’t like you, why did you leave her?”

“I have my reasons?”

“Would you kindly share it with me?”

She paused for a few seconds. Even for herself, it is still unclear what she just saw. A vision came passed to her mind and in that moment, she knew it is right to let her do as she think the right thing to do.

“I peered into the future. I saw a glimpse of the future, her and them, being part of the circle of a conflict. I became submissive on time at that moment, it tells me to let it happen. I’m so sorry, even I can’t explain what has happened, but the sky abhors it, yet the time still bid it to happens. I don’t know what will become next, but what we have is time and prepare for the conflict.”

Glox saw the almost expression of Reia. He unconsciously brushes his chin and lifted his gaze on the sunset.

“What to do now? Do you intend to spend more time in here?”

“Nay. I have seen enough. Let us fare… tomorrow, at dawn. For now, allow me to enjoy whatever moment has left for me to accompany the children for one last time.”

“I understand. Very well then.”

He bowed and vanished in a leap.

She made her way down the hall. Some children are busy attending and assisting the staffs in the kitchen, while the others are busy on their rooms playing, or keeping themselves busy with children’s book and learning different things, just like what would any other normal children would play. A smile animated in her face.

A child called her out. She struggled to climb up the stairs with her small legs. She nearly tripped over the paper plane over her heels.

“What is it?” Reia softly asked.

The little girl presented to her a doll on what seemingly resembles her figure. It was made of potato sack with buttons as her eyes and her hair comes from the skewered rag that sewed to its head.

“Aww, thank you. It’s wonderful.”

“Thanks. Take care of Gigi, she’s very special.” The little girl giggles.

“Is that so?”

She did not need to ask, by the look of her face, she can tell that she put an effort on making the doll. She ran back to the room where the children are thought how to sew. She came cross of what it seems to be the training ground and to wester side which is where a building that is on construction.

The thin cold air stays still for few moments as the wave crashes at bay. It was the moment that the ring from the bell had the chill creep to her body. She felt the atmosphere gradually warm and she teleported on the rooftop and waited. She observed and waited patiently what was about to happen in a matter of minute.

The sky is clear as crystal. The stars twinkled brightly as the moon light streak in the surface. But the light did not last and was replace by the color of the blood. It strikes her again; the chilling atmosphere began to grew intense again. She saw the trails of reddish smoke miasma all over the place in the form of mist.

“What in the name of god is happening?”

She stopped on her tracks as soon she saw a large group of men from the Glade preparing. The melee warriors guarded the mages in the shore, dressed in robes. The archers began to climb on the towers and on the roof. They all wore light armors and bucklers fastened in their arms. The mages chanted in-sync.

“Ugania de forma shureido.”

In their palm, a white ball shoots out to the sky and began to disperse into dome. It was for the purpose of protecting the mansion for the upcoming strike of the enemies.

Saw the rushing Henrick, Reia immediately flew and landed in front of him. Dazed and exhausted on his tasks, the tall and dark lad shook his head and halted. His face is long and pale.

“Will you explain to me what kind of anomaly is this?” She insisted, but Henrick remove her from blocking his path.

“It’s the Night Tide. You didn’t know?”

“What?” His explanation easily swayed by her ignorance of the situation. “I don’t understand what you mean. Will you explain it to me more properly?” It was more like a statement rather than a question, but he understands her plight.

“Look, as much as I want to enlighten you, there isn’t much time. The monsters will rampart any moment now, we must prepare. And you must hide inside the mansion… make sure to keep the children safe there. You will be safe in there while we drive away these monsters until the end of the night.”

Henrick sounded wanted to tell her more but did not dare as the apparent issue matters the most and so, he run fast enough to compare to a stallion.

They were divided into different teams; one has different functions. The assault team who will engage the enemies upfront and keep them from harming the mage team and the medic team. The mage team and the long-range shooters are responsible of supporting and defending the fort, while the medic team as their name suggest, they are the ones who provided support to those who get injured during the battle.

The Directors have clearly already made the preparations for this battle. Everything is set and ready to take on whatsoever monster they will face, or so they thought. The wind travelled passed north to east. Restless eyes observed the land with such careful not to miss any missteps from the enemy that might benefit them, after all, they haven’t entirely known the complete geography of the land.

Henrick held out his broadsword and sighed inward. His thoughts of how does this battle will course is running back in forth.

The mercenaries already prepared for the battle and as they waited, monsters from the sea began to jump on to the bay. The two parties charged against one another. Their howl erupted like the volcano.